South Korea is a vibrant destination brimming with history, culture, and mouth-watering cuisine. For those new to traveling, it can be overwhelming to plan the perfect trip. That’s why having a comprehensive guide is essential, especially for first timers. Whether you’re embarking on your very first adventure or just curious about what South Korea has to offer, these guides will help you navigate through the country’s must-see sights and experiences.
Transportation & Budgeting in South Korea
Here’s our picks for the best ways to move around in South Korea and other important things to know for your time in there.
Subway, Buses, Train, and Taxi’s
There’s a lot of public transportation to use at South Korea. In subways, there’s 23 lines all over Seoul and you must know which line is the destination you are going to. For buses, it consists of four colors (red, green, blue, yellow). Red are longer distance buses and a rare sight within Seoul, yellow buses run through the main areas and popular tourist spots, so there aren’t many bus stops, while blue and green can be seen frequently around Seoul. Knowing which route you will take helps in determining which bus number you should ride.
For trains, you can either buy your tickets at Seoul Station or pre-book them online using the Korail app. These trains can quickly take you outside of Seoul. Lastly, for public taxis, they are widely available but we highly suggest you download Kakao T. To use Kakao T, you must have a T-money card for payment while some accept cash, it is better to have the card to avoid being cancelled by drivers.
T-money card or Climate Card
Both T-money and climate card can be bought at a certain price. However, for the recharge, you have the freedom to choose how much you want to load on your T-money card while in climate card, you can load depending on how many days you will stay in South Korea and only last for how many days you have purchased it. It Is also unlimited during the entire days. (for example, 5 days unlimited pass = 15,000 KRW). Additionally, you can use T-money anywhere in South Korea while climate card only works around Seoul. If your itinerary only revolves around Seoul, then you should consider availing the climate card. However, if you plan to go outside Seoul, T-money would come in handy.
Currency in South Korea
The currency is Korean Won (KRW). Paper money comes in denominations of 1,000; 5,000; 10,000; and 50,000 won bills. Coins come in 1, 5, 10, 100, and 500 won.
Bring cash but also bring your credit or debit cards
Some stores in touristic places such as Myeong-dong, Hongdae and Itaewon only accepts card payment. However, traditional markets like Gwangjang and stalls found in the streets only accept cash. So, a balance of both is helpful.
Setting a budget per day helps to track your expenses
After your first day, set a daily budget for expenses and put aside some money for shopping. Make a list of the people you plan to buy souvenirs for. We also recommend utilizing public transportation to save more on food and shopping. In buying souvenirs, Ik-seondong is known for a lot of cheap items. Additionally, there’s the twelve-storey building of Daiso in Myeong-dong. From make-up, skin care, to cute items to bring home for your loved ones, you can find it there. You shouldn’t miss out on Korean skin care – visit Olive Young too.
Personally, we did not use a currency exchange at the airport or anywhere at Seoul. We just used a debit card and withdraw money at the airport upon arrival. It’s a bit cheaper to do it at the airport or also in any shopping district like Myeongdong. In our case, we used Shihan Bank. They charge 3,600 KRW withdrawal fee every transaction.
Read our other South Korea Guides for more insights what the beautiful country has to offer!
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